You always buy organic

And don't assume that all organic foods are healthier than non-organic
options, or that organic equals healthy. Organic choices are usually
pricier, for one thing. And organic high-calorie, high-fat granola bars
and sugary cereals are just as bad for you as the non-organic version.

You skimp on sleep

Think it's a good idea to get up at 5 a.m. and hit the gym? Not if you
should be sleeping instead, says Gary Rogg, MD, a primary care physician
and assistant professor at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y.
Studies have consistently shown that people need at least seven hours of
sleep a night for optimal health, and short sleep has been associated with
a host of health problems, including high blood pressure, depression,
diabetes, and a reduced immune response to vaccines.

You lack supplement savvy

More is not better when it comes to vitamins and supplements, and too much
of a good thing can actually be harmful.

In 2011, an analysis of data on nearly 40,000 women found that those who took dietary supplementsespecially ironwere actually at slightly higher risk of dying, although the investigators weren't sure why. "There's no really long-term studies that show unequivocal benefits of taking vitamin and mineral supplements," says Dr. Rogg. "If you're going to take supplements, take them in moderation, and stick to the recommended daily doses."

You get unnecessary tests

As with vitamins and minerals, more does not always mean better when it
comes to medical tests. Especially tests marketed directly to consumers,
like the cardiac calcium-scoring test. While this testa CT scan that
identifies calcium deposits in the heart arteriesis useful for a select group of at-risk people, it isn't for everyone, says Dr. Rogg. It also exposes
you to a whopping amount of radiationthe equivalent of 25 to 50 chest X-rays.

Several US medical specialty groups have launched an initiative, Choosing
Wisely, to draw attention to overuse of 45 medical tests, and encourage physicians to avoid tests and procedures of questionable benefit.

You beg for antibiotics

Many people ask their doctor for a prescription for antibiotics or antivirals for symptoms that probably would resolve on their own, or just
because they fear getting sick.

And some doctors may oblige. But these drugs also carry risks, from
contributing to the huge problem of drug resistance to killing off the
good bacteria in your body. Let your doctor decide if your symptoms warrant medication, and skip the high-pressure tactics.

You're a germaphobe

We all know people who never leave the house without their hand
sanitizeryou may even be that person. And yes, you should wash your hands with soap and water to kill germs that can make you sick.

But evidence also suggests that some germ exposure could steer the immune
system away from allergies, and that an overly sterile
environment might be bad. (It's called the hygiene hypothesis.)
Good bacteria are also key for staying healthy, particularly for the skin, digestive tract, and vagina. So "fear of germs" does not equal "good
health."

You over- or underdo alternative remedies

Once upon a time, it was hard to get the medical establishment to
recognize that acupuncture, herbal remedies, or biofeedback could sometimes heal people as well as big-name drugs.

Now we know that if you dismiss acupuncture as “quackery,” you may be
missing out on your best therapy yet. At the same time, if you over-rely
on alternative medicineopting for a herbal remedies instead of
chemotherapy, for instanceyou may also be missing out on the best cure
yet.

Try to keep an open mind and consult the experts to make informed choices.

You use exercise alone to shed pounds

Regular exercise is crucial for health and maintaining a healthy weight,
but it won't help you lose weight unless you cut down your calorie intake.

"Patients exercise themselves until they're blue in the face, they're
frustrated, they're sort of at a loss as to why they haven't had success,"
says Shantanu Nundy, MD, a primary care physician at the University of
Chicago. But the truth is that exercisemaybe because it whets the
appetite, maybe because we decide it's OK to reward ourselves with a treat
after that workout, maybe bothoften makes people eat more, which means
you'll make up for the calories you just burned, and then some.

You ignore sodium

You watch your calories. You avoid meals dripping with saturated fat. But sodium? All too often that's the ingredient that gets ignored when weighing healthy options.

High sodium intake has been firmly tied to an increased risk of high blood pressure, and the average American eats well over the recommended amount. Most of the excess sodium we consume comes from packaged and prepared
foods, from spaghetti sauce to frozen dinners. Always check nutrition labels for sodium content; the Institute of Medicine recommends people
limit their intake to below 2,300 milligrams per day, and 1,500 mg for people 51 and older, African Americans, and anyone with high blood pressure or diabetes.

You guzzle calorie-free soda

Artificially sweetened beverages may free of calories, but it doesn't mean
they're all that great for your health.

A couple of studies released at the 2011 American Diabetes
Association's annual meeting suggest just the opposite. One found that
older people who drank lots of diet soda saw their waistlines expand five
times more over a decade than their peers who didn't drink diet soda at
all, while another showed that mice fed the artificial sweetener aspartame
had higher blood-sugar levels.

You drink too much water

Dehydration is bad. So more water is good, right? That's true, to a point.

But particularly if you're running your first marathon or some other
physically taxing, long event it's important to avoid drinking too much water, which could lead to water intoxication (also known as
hyponatremia).

You lie to your doctor

Many of us don't tell our doc everythingsay, we
smoke cigarettes or drink more than we should. Or we may take that
prescription with no intention of ever filling it. Harvard Medical School
researchers found that more than one in five first-time prescriptions
never got filled (this was especially true for chronic conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood
pressure, and diabetes).

But you're better off being straight with your doctor, who can help you
find ways to kick the habit or find a treatment you'll actually take (or
be able to afford).

If you don't feel you can be fully honest with your doctor, says Dr.
Nundy, you should look for a new one.

You think you know more than your doc

With the Internet at our fingertips, we all feel smarter than we did in the past. And well-moderated online forums can be a great resource for helping people with certain health concerns get support and stay informed.

But they are no substitute for a doctor’s advice.

“I think a common mistake is to sort of put more faith in those resources than health care professionals,” says Dr. Nundy, the author of Stay Healthy at Every Age: What Your Doctor Wants You to Know.

You think healthy packaging equals healthy food

Food or cosmetics products that boast of being all natural may sound
appealing and wholesome, but in fact, the US Food and Drug Administration
has a pretty loose definition of just what that word means.

The FDA is OK with any product claiming to be natural, as long as it
doesn't contain added color, artificial flavor, or synthetic substances.

Low fat is another tricky claim. The FDA does have clear guidelines on
when a product can claim to be low- or reduced-fat, but these products may
still be high in sugar, sodium, or caloriesor all of the above.

You exercise too much

Pushing yourself is usually a good thing when it comes to physical
activity. But your body needs rest, too, especially after an extra-hard
workout. Signs that you are working out too hard can be mental and
physical, and include fatigue, difficulty sleeping, decreased immunity,
muscle soreness, and injury. To keep your workout freshand avoid overuse
injuriesit's a good idea to vary your routine, and give yourself a day
off now and then. "Sometimes, just sitting back and relaxing is better for
your body than going to the gym for that hour," says Dr. Rogg.

You still don't eat your fruits and veggies

By now, pretty much everyone knows they should be eating at least five
servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Eating plenty of produce helps
reduce your risk of heart disease and several types of cancer, and can
help you manage your weight too. But a state-by-state survey by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2009, just
one-third of adults reported eating at least two servings of fruit a day,
and only about one-quarter ate three or more servings of veggies daily.

You obsess over the details

Health shouldn't be seen as something to strive for, but as a way of life,
Dr. Rogg says. "When you focus on keeping healthy as an endpoint, as
opposed to a healthy lifestyle, you may tend to sort of miss the whole
picture."

Too often, Dr. Rogg says, people who want to be healthy focus on avoiding
"bad" foods and obsess about numbers, like their body mass index. "The
focus that people have to make is on being happy and on things that will
make them happy, and enjoy themselves."

You skip vaccines

Grown ups need shots, too, but many of us don't get themraising our risk
of contracting a host of unpleasant, deadlyand preventableillnesses, from the flu to cervical cancer to shingles. Just one in five at-risk adults under 65 received the pneumococcal vaccine, for example.

Recommendations for adult vaccine coverage vary based on age, health,
where you travel and what you're exposed to, but the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention recommends an annual flu shot for everyone, and a
diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis booster every 10 years for adults. Check out
the full list of recommended vaccines for adults.

You avoid doctors in general

You know you should eat better, exercise, lose weight, quit smokingwhat
more can a doctor do to help? A lot, says Dr. Nundy. Studies have shown
people have a better chance of trying to quit smoking, and succeeding,
when a doctor advises them to do so. Doctors can also prescribe
medications that can greatly increase quitting success. And while there's
unfortunately no safe pill to help people lose weight, a doctor's advice
can give you a better chance of succeeding in trimming down as well, Dr.
Nundy says.

You don't read nutrition labels

A nutrition labelwhich contains information on a food's calories, sugar, fat, and sodium contentwill tell you the real story about whether those "natural" or "low-fat" foods are actually good for you.

"Just because something is turkey or chicken doesn't necessarily mean it's
low-fat or low-salt," says Dr. Rogg. Be sure to pay attention to the
portion size listed on the label, too.

You think high-tech health care is enough

While invasive treatments, like stents to prop open clogged
heart arteries, may sound pretty cool, says Dr. Nundy, "you would have been much better off had you not had a blockage in the first place."

So don't think the gee-whiz medical techniques of the future are going to cure you down the road, but do take a day off to get a good old-fashioned checkup.
"There's no substitute for prevention," he says. "We have lots of pounds
of cures, but they're not perfect."

You're clueless about health records

Moving, switching insurance plans and changing doctors can leave your
medical records scattered to the winds. You don't need to have a filing
cabinet stuffed with the results of every medical test you've ever taken,
but keeping track of a few key pieces of health information can go a long
way toward making sure you get the health care you need, Dr. Nundy
advises. At minimum, you should keep track of which vaccines you've
received and when, as well as the dates and results of your most recent
screening tests.